'''Climb On Safely''' is the Boy Scouts of America's recommended procedure for organizing BSA climbing/rappelling activities at a natural site or a specifically designed facility such as a climbing wall or tower.

'''Climb On Safely''' is the Boy Scouts of America's recommended procedure for organizing BSA climbing/rappelling activities at a natural site or a specifically designed facility such as a climbing wall or tower.

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The adult supervisor's relationship with youth should reinforce the importance of following instructions. The adult leader in charge and the climbing instructor share this responsibility. The instructor is responsible for all procedures and for safely conducting the climbing/rappelling activity. The adult supervisor works cooperatively with the climbing instructor and is responsible for all matters outside of the climbing/rappelling activity.

The adult supervisor's relationship with youth should reinforce the importance of following instructions. The adult leader in charge and the climbing instructor share this responsibility. The instructor is responsible for all procedures and for safely conducting the climbing/rappelling activity. The adult supervisor works cooperatively with the climbing instructor and is responsible for all matters outside of the climbing/rappelling activity.

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=Basic Requirements=

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#Qualified Supervision

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#Qualified Instructors

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#Physical Fitness

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#Safe Area

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#Equipment

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#Planning

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#Environmental Conditions

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#Discipline

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=Age-Appropriate Guidelines=

==Cub Scout Climbing==

==Cub Scout Climbing==

[[Cub Scouts]] and [[Webelos Scouts]] are encouraged to engage in climbing in a controlled environment with close supervision by instructors who are knowledgeable about instructing this age group. Webelos Scouts also may participate in rappelling. Normally this means going to a climbing gym where the degree of difficulty is age-appropriate and the harnesses are size-appropriate for Cub Scouts. It is not recommended that Cub Scouts use climbing towers and walls in camp that have been designed for [[Boy Scout]] use. See the [[Age-Appropriate Guidelines]].

[[Cub Scouts]] and [[Webelos Scouts]] are encouraged to engage in climbing in a controlled environment with close supervision by instructors who are knowledgeable about instructing this age group. Webelos Scouts also may participate in rappelling. Normally this means going to a climbing gym where the degree of difficulty is age-appropriate and the harnesses are size-appropriate for Cub Scouts. It is not recommended that Cub Scouts use climbing towers and walls in camp that have been designed for [[Boy Scout]] use. See the [[Age-Appropriate Guidelines]].

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==CUB SCOUTS==

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*Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained adult spotters. (This pertains to climbing on boulders or other steep faces without going more than a few feet off the ground, protected by spotters rather than a rope belay.)

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*Climbing in a climbing gym or using a portable wall or other age-appropriate facility with close supervision and age-appropriate instruction and equipment.

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*Climbers will be lowered by a belayer; no rappelling by Cub Scouts.

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*No belaying by Cub Scouts.

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==WEBELOS SCOUTS==

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*Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained adult spotters.

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*Climbing in a climbing gym or using a portable wall or other age-appropriate facility with close supervision and age-appropriate instruction and equipment.

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*Rappelling with a trained adult belayer.

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*No belaying by Webelos Scouts.

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*'''Note:''' 10-1/2 year old Boy Scouts are still considered Webelos for Climbing Activities

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==BOY SCOUTS AGES 11 TO 12==

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:''[[Boy Scouts]] can earn the [[Climbing]] Merit Badge.

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*Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained spotters.

*Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained spotters.

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*Top-rope climbing with trained belayers.

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*Belaying with supervision.

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*Rappelling with trained belayers.

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*All council and district climbing must be top-roped.

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*Practice lead climbing with a top-rope belay.

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*Units with youth who are at least 13 years of age may elect to participate in lead climbing and/or snow and ice climbing with training from a nationally recognized organization that trains climbing instructors. BSA climbing directors and instructors are not trained in lead climbing or snow and ice climbing.

Revision as of 13:37, April 19, 2012

Climb On Safely is the Boy Scouts of America's recommended procedure for organizing BSA climbing/rappelling activities at a natural site or a specifically designed facility such as a climbing wall or tower.

Young people today seek greater challenges, and climbing and rappelling offer a worthy challenge. The satisfaction of safely climbing a rock face is hard to top. Climbing gyms and facilities has also made climbing and rappelling readily available throughout the United States.

This increased interest has made the BSA more aware of the inherent risks of climbing and rappelling. More accidents occur during unit rappelling than during council-managed climbing or rappelling, and more accidents have occurred during rappelling than climbing. Many climbing rappelling accidents could be avoided by having qualified instruction from a conscientious adult who has the attention and respect of the youth entrusted to his or her care. Supervision by a caring adult who fully understands and appreciates the responsibility he or she assumes helps assure safety when youth engage in or prepare for climbing or rappelling.

The adult supervisor's relationship with youth should reinforce the importance of following instructions. The adult leader in charge and the climbing instructor share this responsibility. The instructor is responsible for all procedures and for safely conducting the climbing/rappelling activity. The adult supervisor works cooperatively with the climbing instructor and is responsible for all matters outside of the climbing/rappelling activity.

Basic Requirements

Qualified Supervision

Qualified Instructors

Physical Fitness

Safe Area

Equipment

Planning

Environmental Conditions

Discipline

Age-Appropriate Guidelines

Cub Scout Climbing

Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts are encouraged to engage in climbing in a controlled environment with close supervision by instructors who are knowledgeable about instructing this age group. Webelos Scouts also may participate in rappelling. Normally this means going to a climbing gym where the degree of difficulty is age-appropriate and the harnesses are size-appropriate for Cub Scouts. It is not recommended that Cub Scouts use climbing towers and walls in camp that have been designed for Boy Scout use. See the Age-Appropriate Guidelines.

CUB SCOUTS

Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained adult spotters. (This pertains to climbing on boulders or other steep faces without going more than a few feet off the ground, protected by spotters rather than a rope belay.)

Climbing in a climbing gym or using a portable wall or other age-appropriate facility with close supervision and age-appropriate instruction and equipment.

Climbers will be lowered by a belayer; no rappelling by Cub Scouts.

No belaying by Cub Scouts.

WEBELOS SCOUTS

Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained adult spotters.

Climbing in a climbing gym or using a portable wall or other age-appropriate facility with close supervision and age-appropriate instruction and equipment.

Rappelling with a trained adult belayer.

No belaying by Webelos Scouts.

Note: 10-1/2 year old Boy Scouts are still considered Webelos for Climbing Activities

OLDER BOY SCOUTS, VARSITY SCOUTS, AND VENTURERS

Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained spotters.

Top-rope climbing with trained belayers.

Belaying with supervision.

Rappelling with trained belayers.

All council and district climbing must be top-roped.

Practice lead climbing with a top-rope belay.

Units with youth who are at least 13 years of age may elect to participate in lead climbing and/or snow and ice climbing with training from a nationally recognized organization that trains climbing instructors. BSA climbing directors and instructors are not trained in lead climbing or snow and ice climbing.